mid-14c., reuerye, "wild conduct, frolic," from Old French reverie, resverie "revelry, raving, delirium" (Modern French rêverie), from resver "to dream, wander, rave" (12c., Modern French rêver), of uncertain origin (also the root of rave). Meaning "daydream" is first attested 1650s, a reborrowing from French. As a type of musical composition, it is attested from 1880. Related: Reverist.

mid-14c., "opposite or contrary" (of something), from reverse (adj.) or from Old French Related: revers "the opposite, reverse." Meaning "a defeat, a change of fortune" is from 1520s; meaning "back side of a coin" is from 1620s. Of gear-shifts in motor cars, from 1875. As a type of sports play (originally rugby) it is recorded from 1921.

mid-15c., "an inspection of military forces," from Middle French reveue "a reviewing, review," noun use of fem. past participle of reveeir "to see again, go to see again," from Latin revidere, from re- "again" (see re-) + videre "to see" (see vision). Sense of "process of going over again" is from 1560s; that of "a view of the past, a retrospective survey" is from c.1600. Meaning "general examination or criticism of a recent work" is first attested 1640s.

1610s, "one who reviews" (in any sense), agent noun from review (v.). Specifically, "one who critically examines and passes judgment on new publications or productions; a writer of reviews" is from 1650s.

1903, from revision + -ism. Originally in Marxist jargon, "rejection of gradual introduction of socialism." Revisionist is from 1850 (adj.); 1854 (n.); in the historical sense from 1934, originally with reference to the causes of World War I.

1650s, "act of reviving;" 1660s, "the bringing of an old play back to the stage," from revive + -al (2). First in sense "general religious awakening in a community" by Cotton Mather, 1702; revivalist is first attested 1812.

General sense of "instance of great change in affairs" is recorded from mid-15c. Political meaning "overthrow of an established political system" first recorded c.1600, derived from French, and was especially applied to the expulsion of the Stuart dynasty under James II in 1688 and transfer of sovereignty to William and Mary.

1872, "show presenting a review of current events," from French revue, from Middle French, literally "survey," noun use of fem. past participle of revoir "to see again" (see review (n.)). Later extended to shows consisting of a series of unrelated scenes.

mid-14c., "a regarding, heeding, observation," from Anglo-French and Old North French reward, back-formation from rewarder (see reward (v.)). Meaning "repayment for some service" is from late 14c. Sense of "sum of money in exchange for capture" is from 1590s.

capital of Iceland, literally "bay of smoke," from Old Norse reykja "to smoke" (see reek (n.)) + vik "bay" (see viking). So called from the natural hot springs there. Settlement said to date from 9c., but not established as a town until 1786.

quasi-proper name for a fox, c.1300, from Old French Renart, Reynard name of the fox in Roman de Renart, from Old High German personal name Reginhart "strong in counsel," literally "counsel-brave." The first element is related to reckon, the second to hard. The tales were so popular that the name became the word for "fox" in Old French. Old French also had renardie "craftiness."

masc. proper name, from Old French Reinald (Modern French Renaut, Latinized as Reginaldus), a popular name among the Normans, from Old High German Reginald, the first element related to reckon, the second to Old English wealdan "to rule" (see wield). Related: Reynolds.